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Sunday, Apr. 2 3:00pm ET
Atlanta wins on Audette's breakaway goal | |||||
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BOX SCORE
ATLANTA (AP) -- Many players would hardly welcome a trade to an expansion team after logging ice time for a playoff contender. Not Donald Audette. Audette scored on a third-period breakaway as the Atlanta Thrashers snapped a 17-game home-winless streak Sunday with a 5-4 victory over the New York Islanders. "My responsibilities are higher here than they were in LA, and I love it," Audette said. "I know I can help this team grow, and that's where I want to be and be part of it." Audette took a pass from Ray Ferraro at the New York blue line and skated uncontested before zipping a shot past Kevin Weekes. It was Audette's 17th goal and fifth since being acquired from Los Angeles on March 13. "I like to be out there," Audette said. "The more I play, the more I want to play. I have to play well." Ferraro had a goal and two assists for the expansion Thrashers, who were 0-15-2 at Philips Arena since beating Philadelphia on Jan. 14. Atlanta, the NHL's worst team with 39 points, had lost five straight and was 1-16-1 since winning at Colorado on Feb. 22. The Islanders, who have the NHL's third-worst record, got two goals from Mike Watt, but it wasn't enough to keep New York from losing to the Thrashers for the third time in four games. Atlanta has only 14 wins this season. Weekes made 26 saves for the Islanders, 1-6-1 since winning at Atlanta on March 16. Weekes made a career-high 47 saves in Saturday's 2-2 home tie with Chicago. "I think we made tremendous strides prior to our last six or seven games," Weekes said. "Within that time frame I just don't think our level of commitment and effort is where it should be. That's something that's become a bit frustrating." Atlanta goaltender Damian Rhodes, playing his 10th straight game, stopped 17 shots. The teams were tied 2-2 entering the third period, but Johan Davidsson knocked in his own rebound about three feet to the right of the crease. Davidsson's third goal beat Rhodes with 19:41 to go. Only 26 seconds later, Eric Cairns put the Islanders up 4-2 by poking the puck past forwards Patrik Stefan and Hnat Domenichelli. "That's a good positive sign for our hockey club," Thrashers coach Curt Fraser said. "We didn't let it bother us." Shean Donovan's fifth goal cut the lead to 4-3 with 17:47 to go. Racing to the left side of the crease, Donovan took Andreas Karlsson's pass from the back boards and beat Weekes to the stick side. Andrew Brunette tied it just 12 seconds later with his team-high 22nd goal. "When it's the third period, and you've got a two-goal lead, you have to maintain that advantage," Weekes said. "Especially with this being a road game." Watt made it 1-0 with a wrist shot from the right faceoff circle. Ferraro tied it 13:05 into the first with a rebound shot from the left side of the crease. After Watt's fifth goal, 7:55 into the second, Domenichelli tied it 2-2. With the teams skating 4-on-4. | ALSO SEE NHL Scoreboard NY Islanders Clubhouse Atlanta Clubhouse RECAPS Carolina 1 Philadelphia 0
Atlanta 5
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